Reader AlexJAnder tells the tale of how a hydrocolloid dressing, or hydrocolloidal bandage, acts as a kind of artificial scab, allowing your body to focus on healing and possibly avoid scabbing and, later, scarring. How-to go-to site eHow explains how to apply them, and notes that they're often found through their trade names: RepliCare, Tegasorb and Duoderm, among others.

The better solution is to keep it covered with a hydrocolloidal bandage (found in the band-aid section of your pharmacy). I don't fully understand the science/magic behind them, but the gist is that they act as a scab, so that your wound is allowed to heal fully.

At first it seemed counter-intuitive to keep a wound open, but after a week it's almost healed up with no signs of scarring.